Mecosta County residents push back on ITC Copperton Project routes
Mecosta County residents are opposing ITC Holdings' proposed Copperton transmission routes, which could cross properties in several townships and affect wetlands, farms and forests. Residents asked county and township officials to formally oppose the routes, while ITC said it will narrow the options before seeking approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission.
Residents attended an ITC community engagement session in Big Rapids to provide property information and raise concerns about the proposed Copperton transmission project. Potential routes through Mecosta County could affect wetlands, farms, forests, homes and other sensitive properties, prompting residents to criticize possible environmental impacts and the use of eminent domain.
Landowners presented a petition opposing one proposed route, and speakers urged the Mecosta County Board of Commissioners and local township officials to adopt formal opposition. County officials discussed gathering additional public input and coordinating with the Mecosta County Township Association, but no formal opposition measure had been adopted at the time of the meeting.
ITC Holdings Communications Specialist Catherine Harrington said the currently displayed routes are preliminary. ITC plans to narrow the alternatives and hold additional landowner and public meetings before submitting final route options to the Michigan Public Service Commission in 2027. The article also links the transmission expansion to a separate Google data center project in Van Buren Township, but the Copperton project itself is a power-transmission development rather than a data center.